SUBJECT
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Proposed changes to the Eloise Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) housing rehabilitation program requirements.
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DESCRIPTION
Pursuant to the 2018 Eloise Community Redevelopment Plan Update adopted by the Board under Ordinance No. 18-034, a critical objective of the CRA is addressing substandard housing conditions. Accordingly, the CRA has undertaken a program of housing rehabilitation, including roof repairs, handicapped accessibility, and sewer connection, applying the same eligibility requirements as those used by the Housing and Neighborhood Development (HND) for Community Development Block Grant home repairs. These include, among others, income qualification requirements and placing a five-year lien on the property following completion of repairs to restrict resale.
At the June 2, 2025, meeting of the CRA Advisory Committee, the Committee requested a modification of home repair program requirements from those used by HND. Specifically, the Committee proposed removing all income qualification and lien requirements for any type of home repair project in the CRA. The Committee’s rationale for loosening the restrictions is that, to date, many of the residents and owners within the CRA have not applied for the rehab program, with some citing the lien and/or income disclosure requirements as a reason why.
At its work session on August 15, 2025, the Board of County Commissioners, in its capacity as the Eloise CRA Board, received a presentation from staff and considered the recommendations of the CRA Advisory Committee. General comments from Board members included a desire to increase resident participation in the housing rehabilitation program, and make two changes to the program requirements to effectuate that goal. First, the five-year lien placed on the rehabilitated property should be prorated, so that any financial burden to the homeowner is reduced over time. Second, in the event that a homeowner passes away while a rehabilitation lien is still valid and enforceable against their homesteaded property, any heir to said property who intends to occupy and reside on the property as their homestead shall not be required to meet any income qualifications.
The CRA’s housing rehabilitation program will continue to be subject to the following eligibility requirements:
(i) For roof repairs, the property must be occupied full-time by the homeowner, as evidenced by an active homestead exemption shown on the Property Appraiser’s website. (Homestead exemption is not required for sewer connectivity or handicapped accessibility improvements).
(ii) The property to be rehabilitated may not have any active code violations at the time the rehabilitation work is scheduled to commence. If active code violations exist at the time of application, the property owner or resident, as applicable, must bring the property into compliance prior to approval of the application and commencement of improvements.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend the Board of County Commissioners, acting in its capacity as the Eloise CRA Board, adopt two changes to the current eligibility requirements for the Eloise housing rehabilitation program, as follows: (i) the dollar amount of any five-year lien placed upon rehabilitated property shall be prorated equally over such five-year period; and (ii) in the event that a homeowner passes away while any such rehabilitation lien is still valid and enforceable against the property, any heir to said property intending to occupy and reside on the property as their homestead shall not be required to income qualify.
FISCAL IMPACT
No Fiscal Impact
CONTACT INFORMATION
Tabitha Alpers
Budget and Management Services
863-534-6026
tabithaalpers@polk-county.net
Sandra Howard
Deputy County Attorney
863-534-6437